St. Pete Felon Gets Prison Time For Drug Trafficking, Gun Charges: DOJ

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A St. Petersburg felon has been sentenced to prison for drug trafficking and gun charges, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

Jamel Middleton, 27, is heading to federal prison for 15 years and eight months for possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

He was also ordered to forfeit about $7,500 in cash, two semi-automatic rifles, two semi-automatic pistols and ammunition, the DOJ said. These are related to the proceeds of the offense and were used in the crimes committed.

Middleton pleaded guilty on March 8.

A federal search warrant was issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives at a St. Petersburg home where he was found on Feb. 17, 2022, the agency said.

During the search, agents found 56.79 grams of pure methamphetamine. A field test of the white powdery substance showed a positive result for Mannitol, a commonly used cutting agent for narcotics. An additional 93.12 grams of a substance tested positive for fentanyl, the DOJ said.

Agents found a handgun under the mattress in a bedroom at the home. To the right of the handgun agents located a folder that had “Middleton, Jamel” written in black ink. Additionally, agents located two rifles inside the closet of the bedroom.

Underneath the television within the bedroom was a black safe, the agency said. Inside was a bag with six clear plastic baggies containing a crystalline substance and a handgun. The DEA laboratory determined the crystalline substance to be 658.58 grams of pure methamphetamine.

Middleton has multiple prior convictions, including for shooting at or within a building and sale of controlled substances, which prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.